George Okwaro is a forester with a vast conservation experience spanning Forest landscapes, Savanna rangelands and GIS.

He started his career as a research assistant with International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI) Collaborative Research program housed by Kenya Forestry Research Institute looking at the intricate relationship between communities and forests in Kenya’s key natural forests, with a special interest in forest governance, access and use rights and how they shaped conservation. He later moved to African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) to share his experience and skills with communities using the heartland conservation approach. At AWF he took up different roles raising through the ranks to Manager Level. While there, he managed different projects including Mau forest rehabilitation, Budongo and Kalinzu forests restoration in Uganda (a sub-grant to JGI Uganda) while serving as country planner for the Uganda biodiversity program funded by USAID among others.

Prior to joining WRI, he managed IUCN ESARO’s Conserving Natural Capital and Enhancing Collaborative Management of Trans-boundary Resources in East Africa project. While there, he supported East African Community in developing learning- and experience-sharing platforms to augment and coordinate efforts in combating illegal wildlife trade, collaborative management and economic valuation of trans-boundary natural resources.

George hold's a Master’s degree in Geo Information Science and Earth Observation for Natural Resources Management from University of Twente and Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Moi University.

George has a special (from childhood) interest in forest restoration, biodiversity conservation and climate change.